Mental Health & Rehabilitation eCast November 2005

The purpose of the Mental Health & Rehabilitation eCast is to inform mental health and rehabilitation networks worldwide about the activities and resources produced by the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation as well as to disseminate general mental health and rehabilitation news.

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DOCUMENTARY ON MENTAL ILLNESS AIRS ON ABC

“Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness” is an intimate, inside look at what it is like to live with a mental illness and how individuals and their families find their way through a tangle of medical, government, societal and spiritual issues. This one hour documentary, produced by Mennonite Media, provides snapshots of ten persons with mental illness from across the U.S. who tell their stories. Experts and advocates in the field add helpful perspective, including former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Dr. William Anthony of Boston University , founder of the modern rehabilitation movement; and Dr. Joyce Burland, founder of the Family to Family program for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This worthwhile piece is airing between Dec. 4 and Feb. 4 in different time slots across the U.S. Check the website www.ShadowVoices.com for specific airing dates in each region or for purchasing DVD or VHS copies of the program.

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GRANT FUNDING CREATES TRAINEESHIPS IN PSYCH REHAB

The Boston University Rehabilitation Counseling Program has been awarded one of four grants from the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration focused on graduate training in rehabilitation for people with psychiatric disabilities. The five-year grant funds traineeships for qualified students in the Master of Science program in Rehabilitation Counseling. The grant funds supplement existing financial aid programs, and require a commitment to working in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation following graduation. Information about the Master of Science program is located on http://www.bu.edu/sargent/academics/ot-rc/. For additional information, contact Patricia Nemec, the Director of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialization, at 617-353-7487 (or by e-mail at pnemec@bu.edu).

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NEW BOOK TARGETED TO LATINO COMMUNITY

"Abriendo Caminos en Tu Vida” is an innovative Spanish guide (Opening Paths in Your Life: A Guide to Prepare for Psychiatric Rehabilitation) designed to help Latinos with psychiatric disabilities assess their level of readiness to engage in rehabilitation services. In order to best fit the specific needs of Latinos, this culturally-competent guide was developed with the input and feedback from Latino consumers and their families. This user friendly guide can be used by Latino consumers, together with a practitioner or family members. At the end of the guide, there are concrete activities that will help the individual develop his or her readiness for rehabilitation. Find out more about the book at http://www.bu.edu/cpr/products/curricula/abriendo.html and learn more about the research project that led to its development at http://www.bu.edu/cpr/latino/readiness.html

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STUDY RESULTS ON MEDS TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA

The recent publication of the phase I results from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Trials in Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) has raised questions among advocates and clinicians alike about reimbursement policies for antipsychotic medications. The study which included more than 1,400 people provides, for the first time, detailed information comparing the effectiveness and side effects of five medications — both new and older medications — that are currently used to treat people with schizophrenia. The study results are published in the September 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/12/1209.

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NEW REPORT FROM INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

“Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental and Substance-Use Conditions: Quality Chasm Series” addresses the need for strategies that meet the distinctive characteristics of health care that go beyond their 2001 report “Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21 st Century.” The new report details the actions necessary to achieve those ends required of clinicians; health care organizations; health plans; purchasers; state, local, and federal governments; and all parties involved in health care for mental and substance-use conditions. A copy of the report is available for free viewing online or for purchase at http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309100445/html/index.html .